(S)-Pyroglutamic acid, (S)-malic acid and (S)-serine as useful starting materials in the synthesis of enantiopure hydroxyamidines.

The synthesis of four enantiopure hydroxyamidines is described. One amidine was obtained from (S)-pyroglutamic acid. Its key step involved the addition of phenylmagnesium bromide to the corresponding ester, affording the tertiary alcohol without detectable racemization. The second amidine was obtained by coupling of an (S)-malic acid derived N-acyliminium ion with β-naphthol. The other amidines were obtained from an (S)-serine-derived imide which was reduced to two diastereomeric lactams that were eventually transformed into the corresponding amidines.